Posts tagged checklist

Imagine searching endlessly for that one place where you feel warm and comfortable. After weeks, months, years even, you fall in love with a beautiful house and sign your name on the dotted line. However, a few months go by and you’re feeling empty and unsure of your decision. You’re feeling home buyer’s remorse.

Buying a home is a big commitment. In many cases, it is a lifelong commitment. And just as you would with any life-changing decision, when it comes to buying real estate, you need to weigh the pros and cons and consider all of your wants and needs before agreeing to any contracts. Otherwise, you may find yourself stuck in a house you don’t even like.

You may be thinking, “Where do I begin?” Whether you are thinking of buying a condo, a townhome or a single-family home, we’re here to get you started with two easy-to-follow checklists:

Feel free to customize them to your own personality, adding or subtracting anything you may or may not need. Buying a home should not be a rash decision. Take your time, do your research and figure out what you truly want before you make any commitments.

Once you’ve found the home of your dreams, there are a few extra measures you should take to ensure you won’t regret your decision:

Be absolutely sure you can afford it. Do you have enough for a down payment? Have you been pre-approved for a loan? Does your monthly payment fit into your budget? Answer all these questions before making an offer. Analyze your financial situation carefully so you know what you can and cannot afford.

Ask questions during closing. After you’ve had a home inspection, if any problems arise, ask the seller the necessary questions before closing the deal. Will they make any repairs? Will they give you an allowance to fix things yourself? If you’re unsure about anything, speak up before you finalize the purchase.

Stand by your choice. Just because someone else has an opinion on the selling price, the location or the current condition of your home, it doesn’t mean they are right. Perhaps they don’t know the market of the neighborhood you’re in, and maybe they live in an area where houses cost less (or more).

Don’t look at other houses. Once you’ve purchased your dream home, stop looking. You may come across another property that you like a lot more, but you will have already made a commitment to your current property. Be happy with your choice and embrace your new home.

Longer daylight hours. Sun-filled afternoons. Green grass and blooming flowers. These are just a few of the reasons summer is a great time to host an open house, inviting potential buyers to walk through your home’s interior and see it at its finest.

In preparing for your open house, you’ll want to do everything you can to make the showing a success. Remember, putting in the prep work now can pay off with big rewards later. One visitor to your open house could be the buyer you’ve been waiting for!

Here are some tips for getting your home ready for a showing. Follow them, and you’re sure to wow potential buyers at your open house!

1. Decorate your entryway: First impressions are of first importance. Buyers will walk up to the entrance before you even meet them; you don’t want to scare them away! Sweep the front steps/walkway. Place potted flowers next to the door, or plant colorful flowers nearby. Other ideas worth considering: repaint/replace the doorway, add a new light fixture or shine/replace house numbers.

2. Manicure your lawn/landscaping: Before your scheduled open house, cut the grass, trim your hedges and pull weeds. Get all your outdoor foliage looking its best, so it can complement your home most beautifully.

3. Spruce up the exterior: Repainting or power-washing your home’s siding might be a smart investment, especially if it’s been a while since you last did so. Remember, the goal at your open house is to showcase your home when it’s looking its best. Buyers should only be thinking how nice it would be to live there, not how much work would be required to get it looking good.

4.Clean, clean, clean: Every nook and cranny of your home should be absolutely spotless. Take out the trash. Wash the windows. Vacuum, mop and sweep up floors. Wash down the walls. Organize your things.

5. Depersonalize: Take down personal mementos, including diplomas, photos and other knick-knacks. All of these items will detract from the buyer’s ability to see him- or herself living in your home. On the flip side, consider displaying photos of your home in other seasons: surrounding by fall foliage or covered in fluffy winter snow. Showcasing your home throughout the year helps the buyer see potential.

6. Make any necessary repairs: This should be obvious, but it is worth saying—if anything is broken, fix it before the open house! Have you been waiting to replace the broken window in the bathroom, or were you putting off cleaning or replacing the stained carpeting in the living areas? Now’s the time!

7. Prepare and print out fact sheets/brochures to give visitors: You can use your Buy Owner tools to do this, and you can customize them to your liking. Set these out in plain sight, on a coffee table or in the kitchen, and tell people to help themselves. This way, interested buyers have something to take with them when they leave.

ON THE DAY OF THE OPEN HOUSE:

10. Make sure the air-conditioning is on: You want guests to feel totally comfortable inside your home, and hot, humid weather is not the way to accomplish this. Make sure the air-conditioning is on, set to a cool temperature.

11. Bake something: Before guests arrive, put some baked good in the oven. As people are mingling through your home, they’ll smell the fresh aroma of home-baked goodies, which is sure to help them see your place as a cozy retreat. Extra bonus: offering snacks can help buyers feel comfortable enough to linger, allowing you to answer questions.

12. Be upbeat & cheerful: Greet every person who enters, and be available to talk, without seeming pushy. Be sure to provide contact info for buyers to contact you, and ask them for feedback, accepting whatever criticism is offered.

For more information on open houses, take a look at these Buy Owner Blog articles:

About the BuyOwner.com Blog

Founded in 1984, BuyOwner.com® is the leading provider of real estate marketing services. We pioneered the "For Sale by Owner" (FSBO) market, which today represents over 20 percent of all residential real estate transactions.